Movies have been made about it, songs and books have been written about it and even Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz once quipped that while all we might need is love, "A little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." This special food cheers us up and even provides some health benefits. If you are one of the millions of chocolate lovers on this planet, enjoy the following facts about this popular treat.
Dark chocolate has been shown to produce many benefits to our health. Because dark chocolate contains a high concentration of antioxidants, eating a bit of this chocolate each day can lower one's blood pressure, improve your overall heart health and perhaps even ward off Type 2 diabetes. In addition, scientists have shown that a bit of chocolate can be an excellent mood booster and even the scent of chocolate can improve one's mood.
Chocolate in some ways is similar to coffee. This food is produced using the seed of the cacao tree. The seeds by themselves are quite bitter, and they must be fermented in order to develop a richer flavor. After the fermentation process is complete, the beans are dried and roasted. Then the shells are removed and the remaining part is known as a cacao nib. This is the part that is ground up to make cocoa and chocolate.
Although, it was first produced in Central America and Mexico, most of the world's cocoa now is grown in Africa. Aztecs and Mayans drank chocolate but without any sugar or fat, and it was a fairly strong and bitter drink. Europeans were the first to add the sweet stuff and turn it into a confection. John Cadbury, of the famous Cadbury company, created the world's first chocolate bar around 1842, and the Cadbury brand still is going strong today.
Of the Top Ten chocolate makers out there, four are based in the United States. Mars, Nestle and Mondelez International are all U.S.-based and are the top three chocolate companies, and Hershey is also among the ten top chocolate producers in the world. These companies also produce some of the world's best-selling chocolate bar brands such as Milky Way, Snickers and Kit Kat. While these inexpensive treats are popular, many people prefer a higher quality, gourmet-style chocolate produced by specialty chocolate companies.
Now that you have read a bit about chocolate, it's time to indulge in this sweet treat. Consider purchasing something truly unique such as a chocolate pizza from Chocolate Pizza Company. A mix of handmade toffee and chocolate creates the crust for the dark and milk chocolate pizzas, while cranberries, almonds and melted white chocolate form the crust for the white chocolate pizzas. There are also many different toppings you can consider to truly customize your gourmet chocolate pizza. In addition to this unique chocolate offering, Chocolate Pizza Company creates truffles, nut clusters and much more, such as their own creation, Peanut Butter Wings. These, of course, are the perfect pairing for a chocolate pizza and come in either dark or milk chocolate varieties.
Dark chocolate has been shown to produce many benefits to our health. Because dark chocolate contains a high concentration of antioxidants, eating a bit of this chocolate each day can lower one's blood pressure, improve your overall heart health and perhaps even ward off Type 2 diabetes. In addition, scientists have shown that a bit of chocolate can be an excellent mood booster and even the scent of chocolate can improve one's mood.
Chocolate in some ways is similar to coffee. This food is produced using the seed of the cacao tree. The seeds by themselves are quite bitter, and they must be fermented in order to develop a richer flavor. After the fermentation process is complete, the beans are dried and roasted. Then the shells are removed and the remaining part is known as a cacao nib. This is the part that is ground up to make cocoa and chocolate.
Although, it was first produced in Central America and Mexico, most of the world's cocoa now is grown in Africa. Aztecs and Mayans drank chocolate but without any sugar or fat, and it was a fairly strong and bitter drink. Europeans were the first to add the sweet stuff and turn it into a confection. John Cadbury, of the famous Cadbury company, created the world's first chocolate bar around 1842, and the Cadbury brand still is going strong today.
Of the Top Ten chocolate makers out there, four are based in the United States. Mars, Nestle and Mondelez International are all U.S.-based and are the top three chocolate companies, and Hershey is also among the ten top chocolate producers in the world. These companies also produce some of the world's best-selling chocolate bar brands such as Milky Way, Snickers and Kit Kat. While these inexpensive treats are popular, many people prefer a higher quality, gourmet-style chocolate produced by specialty chocolate companies.
Now that you have read a bit about chocolate, it's time to indulge in this sweet treat. Consider purchasing something truly unique such as a chocolate pizza from Chocolate Pizza Company. A mix of handmade toffee and chocolate creates the crust for the dark and milk chocolate pizzas, while cranberries, almonds and melted white chocolate form the crust for the white chocolate pizzas. There are also many different toppings you can consider to truly customize your gourmet chocolate pizza. In addition to this unique chocolate offering, Chocolate Pizza Company creates truffles, nut clusters and much more, such as their own creation, Peanut Butter Wings. These, of course, are the perfect pairing for a chocolate pizza and come in either dark or milk chocolate varieties.
About the Author:
Elba Fenwick enjoys reading chocolate blogs. For further details about chocolate covered cookies or to find about other products such as gourmet chocolate gift baskets, please visit the ChocolatePizza.com site today.